Hollywood celebrities, musicians and politicians gathered in front of the golden casket of George Floyd at a fiery memorial Thursday for the man whose death at the hands of police sparked global protests, with a civil rights leader declaring it is time for black people to demand, “Get your knee off our necks!” The service — the first in a series of memorials set for three cities over six days — unfolded as as a judge a few blocks away set bail at $750,000 each for the three fired Minneapolis police officers charged with aiding and abetting murder in Floyd’s death.

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AMERICA PROTESTS: A memorial service for George Floyd kicked off a series of events to mourn the man whose death empowered a national movement. SENT; developing. With AMERICA PROTESTS-THE LATEST, GEORGE FLOYD-MEMORIAL.

AMERICA PROTESTS-NYC: New Yorkers gathered Thursday for a memorial service for George Floyd, that included Floyd's brother Terrence. “I thank God for you all showing love to my brother,” he said. SENT; developing.

AMERICA PROTESTS-EIGHT MINUTES: All protest movements have slogans. George Floyd’s has a number: 8:46 SENT: 720 words, photos.

AMERICA PROTESTS-COORDINATED THEFTS: Police say many smash-and-grab thefts that coincided with protests have been carried out by caravans of well-coordinated criminals capitalizing on chaos. They use social media to communicate with each other and do things to distract and throw police off their trail. SENT: 980 words, photos.

TRUMP-ANALYSIS: An Associated Press analysis finds that President Donald Trump is increasingly emulating the strongman leaders he has long admired as he seeks to tamp down protests over police brutality that are roiling the United States. By Julie Pace. SENT: 1,000 words, photos.

AMERICA PROTESTS-TRUMP: President Donald Trump’s Pentagon chief shot down his idea of using active-duty troops to quell protests, but then reversed course and kept the 82nd Airborne Division on standby in the Washington, D.C., region. It was an extraordinary clash between the U.S. military and its commander in chief. SENT; developing.

AMERICA PROTESTS-MILITARY-RACE — The death of George Floyd in police hands has prompted soul-searching in the military, where many of the troops being called upon to help maintain order on protest-filled streets are African Americans who have experienced racial unfairness not only in American society but in the military. By Robert Burns. UPCOMING: 900 words by 6 p.m., photos, video.

AMERICAN PROTESTS-CONGRESS: Congressional Democrats, powered by the Congressional Black Caucus, are preparing a sweeping package of police reforms in response the death of George Floyd. SENT; developing.

CONFEDERATE MONUMENTS-RICHMOND: Virginia’s governor says a towering statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee will be removed as soon as possible from Richmond’s Monument Avenue. SENT: 834 words, photos.

AMERICA PROTESTS-CALIFORNIA: The mayor of Los Angeles says he will not place the nation’s second-largest city under curfew again starting Thursday night California authorities praised thousands of peaceful protesters who have thronged streets but they also have filed criminal charges against more than 100 people accused of looting and violence. SENT; developing.

AMERICA PROTESTS-CHICAGO POLICE: Several Chicago police officers are under investigation after a video surfaced showing them yanking two women out of a car and throwing them to the ground, and one of the women alleges one of the officers put his knee on her neck while restraining her. SENT: 850 words.

ALSO:

BERRY’S PROTEST: Olympic hammer thrower Gwen Berry wants an apology from the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee for shaming her last summer. She captured headlines when she used her turn on the gold-medal podium at the Pan-Am Games to raise her fist as a show of her frustration with America’s treatment of black. SENT: 870 words, photos.

AMERICA PROTESTS-MEGHAN: Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has shared her sadness about racial divisions in the United States, telling students at her former high school that she felt moved to speak out because the life of George Floyd mattered. SENT: 410 words, photos.

BREES-SOCIAL MEDIA: Drew Brees is being sharply criticized by fellow high-profile athletes after the Saints quarterback reiterated his opposition to kneeling during the national anthem. SENT: 685 words, photos.

BILLS-FROMM: Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Jake Fromm apologized for using the phrase “elite white people” in a text conversation from more than a year ago, and posted on social media early Thursday morning. SENT: 500 words.

MALL RIOT-INFLUENCER CHARGED: Police in Arizona say social media influencer Jake Paul faces misdemeanor charges following a riot that resulted in extensive damage to a mall. SENT: 300 words.

GRAPHICS/INTERACTIVES:

-Minneapolis police use of force among black people (bar chart)

-Minneapolis police uses of force on black people higher than all other races (chart)

PHOTOS;

Photos have moved from throughout the US. Additional photos planned from memorial, US protests today.

VIDEO:

Video has moved from throughout the US. Additional video planned from memorial, US protests today.